Section 817.8.2. Certification.

Based on each mentoring program’s self-assessment (completed via the mentoring certification application), the commission is responsible for ascertaining whether a youth mentoring program is qualified to be designated as a certified mentoring program.

       8.2(1) Full certification. Before a mentoring program can participate in the Iowa mentoring partnership, it must be certified by the commission.

        a.           A review team shall review applications from youth mentoring programs to determine whether the mentoring programs are eligible to participate in the program.

        b.           Full certification means the commission has determined that the youth mentoring program has met the established standards.

        c.           Applications for mentoring program certification are available from the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, 200 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 and the Iowa mentoring partnership’s Web site (www.iowamentoring.org).

        d.           Applicants shall receive written notification of the commission’s decision.

        e.           To remain in good standing as a program with full certification, mentoring programs must verify continued certification by submitting required reports.

       8.2(2) Conditional certification. Some mentoring programs are temporarily certified before the program becomes fully operational or before the program has met the standards for full certification.

        a.           Conditional certification may be in effect for six months and may be used for the purpose of applying for financial and technical assistance available to certified mentoring programs. The commission may grant an extension of conditional certification if it is determined that significant progress is being made toward meeting the requirements for full certification.

        b.           The mentoring program name will not be included on the Iowa mentoring partnership Web site, nor will the program be referred potential mentors, until the mentoring program has been fully certified. The Web site of the Iowa mentoring partnership is www.iowamentoring.org.

        c.           It shall be the responsibility of the mentoring program to notify the commission when the program believes it has met the certification criteria.

        d.           Additional documentation may be required of new mentoring programs to verify elements of the application. Mentoring programs may be requested to provide documentation of continued eligibility at any time during and after conditional certification.

       8.2(3) Recertification. Certified youth mentoring programs shall submit verification of continued eligibility to the commission at least every two years.

        a.           The form for recertification shall be provided by the commission.

        b.           Other documents and regular reporting will be requested throughout the certification period to verify the continuing eligibility of the mentoring program.

       8.2(4) Documentation. Various and specific documentation may be required by the commission during the certification process. Each program shall provide relevant information upon the commission’s request in order to be considered for certification.

Applications shall be signed by an authorized representative of the organization.

       8.2(5) Reapplication. A mentoring program may reapply upon proof of compliance with Iowa youth mentoring program certification standards. Any program that is denied certification or decertified for any reason bears the burden of proving that all deficiencies previously cited have been corrected. Corrections shall be in accordance with requirements of the Iowa mentoring partnership. Applications may be requested from the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, 200 East Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309, or the Iowa mentoring partnership’s Web site (www.iowamentoring.org).

       8.2(6) Notification. The commission shall be notified within 30 days following a change in the mentoring program director or authorized representative of the certified mentoring program.

[ARC 9574B, IAB 6/29/11, effective 8/3/11]